John Boby, Wonderful Spotted Indian
Engraving of John Body, the Wonderful Spotted Indian, who had vitiligo, a condition involving loss of pigmentation. John Boby was born in 1774 near Kingston, Jamaica, to slaves who already had four children. He had vitiligo, whereby the skin loses its pigment in random patches. His mother was so frightened when she saw white patches on the baby's black skin that she refused to suckle him. It is likely that she was terrified of being accused of adultery with a white man. The boy was sent to Liverpool at the age of 12 and christened John Primrose Richardson Boby. He was bought and exhibited by a showman named Clark and in 1795 was on display at London's famous Bartholomew Fair. His life turned out happily when hee gained his freedom and married an English woman.
Size: 2400px × 4734px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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